Tuesday, November 1, 2016

RETRO: Setting the Stage for the '01 USGP

So just who were the Playahs' for this most vaunted
'01 United States Grand Prix I'm still Harpin' on 'bout, eh?

Although naturally Uncle Bernaughty's, nee
Mr. Bernard Charles ecclestone's F1 Circus looked vastly different fifteen
years ago, vs. today's performers, albeit the core F1 Constructors still
remain, i.e.; Ferrari, Williams and McLaren being the sport's oldest teams.
Along with Minardi, Benetton, Sauber, Jordan, BAR, and Jaguar all still on the
grid in some shape or form.

Although any of Yuhs astute F1 Aficionados
will know that Minardi's now Scuderia Toro Rosso, becoming Red Bull Racing's
'lil Seester after Deeter Majestik bought it from Paul Stoddart.

While 'Ol Deeter was so deeply offended over
Peter Sauber's shunning of his preferred driver Enrique-Who? that he took his
Red Bull sponsorship and bought Jaguar - turning I-T into a quadruple Driver's
and Constructor's champion.

Jordan went thru a revolving door of owners
before finally settling down as Vijay Duh Playahs' Force India. whilst BAR,
which began life as "Uncle Chopper's" (Ken) Tyrrell Grand Prix, then
BAR, later Honda's factory team before winning the world championship as Brawn,
is now the mighty A-L-L Conquering Silver Arrows, nee Mercedes GP Panzerwagon,
Ja Volt!

Benetton was bought out by Renault, won two
world championships before falling into ill-repute over "Crash-gate!"
Becoming Lotus-Lotus; Err Lotus-Renault, then Lotus and now regaining its
Freckles 'N Spots; Err Stripes, having returned this year as Tuh-Duh! Renault
Sport F1.

As only the Arrows and Prost team's have long
since folded, albeit interestingly we're back to the exact same number 'O
Formula 1 Constructors this season with the arrival of Haas F1.

"Fishyfellah" & Orange Arrows were featured
on this page of '01 USGP Spotters' Guide. (The Tomaso Collection)

As the following twenty-two drivers and eleven
teams participated in the '01 USGP at Indianapolis...

The entire grid were running the now de
riggour three litre normally aspirated V-10 lumps', with a total of six manufacturers
taking part. As Ferrari led the way, supplying three teams in total, with two
being customers, i.e.; Sauber and Prost.

Honda was next with two teams in its fold,
with Eddie Jordan's Jordan Grand Prix and Jacques Villeneuve's British American
Racing squad both sponsored by "BAD HABITS" Smokey-Smoke cigarette
brands.

Team Willy was arguably running it's
Works" BMW squad with the most powerful lumps' on the grid, as they
garnered four wins that season. Three by Michael's famous brother Ralfanzo, with
JPM winning his maiden Grand Prix at Monza.

McLaren were running the only other winning
engine, besides Ferrari and Williams that year, utilizing the Ilmor-Mercedes
F0110K, which Hakkinen & Coulthard both scored two wins apiece with.

Jaguar was actually FoMoCo's (Ford Motor
Company) entry into Formula 1 as an F1 Constructor after having been pushed by
Sir Jackie to get on with I-T! As JYS had successfully coaxed the Dearborn Auto
giant to purchase his Stewart Grand Prix, with the team running factory Cosworth
engines.

Benetton had been bought by Renault, who were
establishing their somewhat different engines, utilizing an ultra wide
111-degree angle V-10 unit for aerodynamic gains, as Y'all know that wider's
better; Hooah! In what would be the final year of Benetton.

And lastly, Paul Stoddart had purchased
Minardi that season and rebranded his aging Cossie' (Cosworth) V-10's engines,
being the old Fondmetal branded '98-spec units derived from the Sauber Ford
"Works" era as European's in deference to his Aeroplane business...

But seriously? Did anybody expect to beat
'DER TERMINATOR at Mother Speedway? After all Herr Schumacher had just won his
second championship for la Scuderia, and fourth world championship overall
then. Having wrapped up the title at Hungary en route to taking nine victories during
the season, which was one more than the totals of both McLaren and Williams
team-mates put together!

As not only was
Michael Schumacher Heads 'N Shoulders ahead of the Formula 1 circus at the
Speedway, he even gave some Roundy-round Taxicab driver fits Thar...